Curtis Brown III

Curtis Brown III, 84, died May 26, 2018 in Knoxville, Tenn. Curtis is survived by his daughter, Laurie Van Pelt, his son, Curtis Brown IV, his granddaughter, Rachel Phillips, his great grandson, Evan Phillips, his sister, Anne Webber, and his companion, Mary Irene Cechini. He is preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Geraldine "Jerri" Grissom; his sister, Jane Clements; and his parents. Curtis was born May 13, 1934 in Cleveland, Miss., to parents Evelyn and Curtis Brown Jr. At 6'5", he excelled at basketball in high school, playing center and averaging 22 points per game. Curtis served in the Air Force and was a veteran of the Korean Conflict. In 1955 he married Jerri Grissom. In 1964 with a degree in business he accepted a position as Regional Sales Manager at General Mills, working with them until he retired in 1989 in Little Rock, Ark. Curtis was a social, active man deeply involved in church activities. He and Jerri built a home in Heber Springs, Ark. where they attended the First United Methodist Church. They enjoyed participating in the cardboard boat races and spent many evenings on the lake with their friends watching the sunset. Later they embarked on traveling the country as RV Snow Birds. His family and friends will always remember him as a compassionate, caring person who never met a stranger. Internment is at Woodlawn Cemetery in Knoxville, Tenn. Memorial donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation or Friends of the Animal Village in Little Rock, Ark.